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August 1, 2017Laredo, TX, United StatesNarcotics

Seattle man sentenced in South Texas to 7 years in federal prison for importing and possessing methamphetamine for distribution

LAREDO, Texas — A Seattle man was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in federal prison for importing and possessing with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine.  

This sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez, Southern District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  

Manual Alfredo Mancillas, 23, from Seattle, Washington, was sentenced Aug. 1 by U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo to serve 84 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release. Mancillas pleaded guilty to the charge April 4, 2017.

According to court documents, in January 2017, Mancillas travelled from his home in Seattle to San Antonio. He then boarded a bus bound for Mexico where he took possession of a small pick-up truck that had crystal methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s oil pan. On Jan. 19, 2017, Mancillas applied for entry into the United States from Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. At that time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered the crystal methamphetamine, which weighed four kilograms (8.8 pounds).

Mancillas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Giselle S. Guerra, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

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